Pouch Laminators: Your Guide to Choosing the Best Machine

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• 6 Minutes

TLDR

With many choices on the market, picking a laminator might seem daunting—but it doesn’t have to be! In this article, we’ll demystify the process of finding the perfect pouch laminator for your needs.  

To pouch or not to pouch? How many rollers should a laminator have? Scrolling through the myriad of options currently available for laminators can be a dizzying experience if you’re new to the field. But fear not: most modern laminators are well-made, reliable, and pretty easy to use—and with more options than ever before, there’s bound to be one that’s right for you.

In this laminating buyer’s guide, we will cover:

• Factors to consider when choosing a pouch laminator
• Types of pouch laminators
• Types of laminating pouches
• Frustrating pouch laminating issues and solutions
• Tips for proper maintenance and care of your pouch laminator

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Pouch Laminator

There are many factors to consider when buying a laminator. The first being big picture: pouch vs. roll. Roll laminators were the first on the market, and you’ve likely seen them if you’ve worked at a school, large corporation, or non-profit. Often several feet wide, they employ large rolls of lamination to seal in documents ranging from small paper flyers to massive posters and banners. They’re very versatile but big, heavy, and involve a learning curve. 

Pouch laminators, on the other hand, are much smaller. While pouch laminator sizes vary, most are small enough to fit on a desktop. They use pouches (which you can buy in different thicknesses) that are pre-sealed on one end and fed through the machine, where rollers grab the pouch and apply heat to bond the coating to your document. Overall, pouch laminators are a bit easier to use, but they offer less flexibility in document size. This is the kind of laminator we will be covering today.

Feed Widths

Before we get into the high-tech features of modern laminators, let’s focus on the basics that most people use to vet laminators. First, there are many different pouch laminator sizes, more commonly referred to the feed widths. For practical purposes, that just means how wide a document can go through it. Most pouch laminators can do letter-sized documents, but some, like the GBC HeatSeal H700pro, can do up to 18”, suitable for posters and signage. 

Pouch Thickness Compatibility

Then there’s the pouch thickness. Some pouch laminators can handle thicker pouches, like 14 mil, and some have a max limit of 10 mil. While there’s no “right” or “better” pouch thickness, it’s a good idea to check the thickness of your typical documents before purchasing one—and to opt for a larger size when possible to allow for more versatility as needs change.

Laminating Speed

Another differentiator that most people use to choose between laminators is speed and warm-up time. The fastest pouch laminator on the market, the Spiral Speed-Lam 330R, can pump out 12 feet per minute (144”), leaving most competitors in the dust. Beyond raw speed, some laminators have quicker warm-up cycles, which is another aspect you should keep in mind if you’re trying to maximize efficiency. Waiting 3 minutes versus 15 makes a big difference when you use it frequently and various times throughout the day.

Rollers vs. Heat Plates

Most pouch laminators these days use rollers, but higher-quality machines typically have more and include heating, cooling, and speed-enhancing rollers. Heat plates (aka heat shoes) are the other, less popular option. Heat plates don’t always make for the same bubble-free surface as rollers because they cannot hold an even heat from end-to-end consistently.

Quality Laminator Brands

While there are many high-quality options on the market, the repeated heating cycles and high laminating volume most machines are exposed to warrant careful laminator brand comparison before rushing into a purchase. As a premier manufacturer of the best machines on the market, we hold true with our best in class pouch laminators that surpass the competition in consistent, quality output that lasts. 

Hot and Cold Laminating Capabilities

While hot (or thermal) laminating is the most common use, some users may encounter documents that can’t handle being exposed to heat without losing their integrity. In that case, having a machine that can do cold laminating helps expand the range of documents you can work on. Cold laminating is completed by only using pressure from the rollers and specialized pressure-sensitive pouches. The heat is kept off or is low enough to not affect sensitive prints, like digitally printed materials or fragile papers.

Adjustable Temperature & Speed

One key aspect of pouch laminating quality and consistency is to have total control over the heat settings. Having an adjustable temperature—especially one that lets you choose the temperature by-degree instead of choosing from pre-set options—gives you that control. Depending on the pouch, paper type, project, and other factors, you may need to run at hotter or cooler temperatures for quality results. Picking a machine with variable temperature control will give you much more flexibility.

The same goes for the speed. You may encounter a pouch laminator that has certain preset speeds to choose from while other machines allow you to completely control it via a dial. This capability puts the control in your hands and allows for much more versatility and a more high quality finish, no matter what you are working with.

Foiling/Foil Laminating

Foiling takes your pouch laminator and turns it into an entirely different tool. It allows you to add metallic or iridescent accents to your documents without any specialized stamping or foiling equipment. Some laminators can apply these toner-reactive foils by simply placing the foil and the paper into a carrier, but there are some key things it will need to have to work: 

1. You must have adjustable temperature, as described above. Different foils need different heat settings.
2. You must have a laminator that reaches at least 300° F, but ideally can go higher for more specialized foils like translucent holographic patterns, which require more heat.
3. You must have adjustable speed. Just like the temperature, having control over how fast your page processes is key to achieving a proper foil.
4. It must accept a minimum of 10 mil thick pouches because you need to be able to run a pouch carrier, which is a thicker cardboard foldover that goes over your page.

Reverse Function

The ability to reverse your pouch after an accidental misfeed is a great feature to have on hand. Common  occurrences include someone inserting the pouch with the open-end first and stopping it from getting stuck around the roller or simply misaligning the pouch that will clump up on the edge if not straightened out. You can prevent jams and damage to the machine with this feature.

Memory Settings

If you are using your pouch laminator ina professional setting where you have multiple repeating jobs with different setups, then having memory recall is a great feature to consider. It allows you to save particular settings (for example, program 1 could be for your standard documents, program 2 for digital prints, program 3 for foil, etc.) for quick recall so you don’t have to remember or re-adjust each time.

Types of Pouch Laminators

There are three types of pouch laminators to choose from. Ultimately, your choice depends on the type of paper and documents you’ll be feeding through it. 

1. Thermal “Hot” Pouch Laminator
2. Pressure Sensitive “Cold” Pouch Laminator
3. Combo machines that can handle both

Thermal pouch laminators are the most common, and as long as the document you’re using isn’t heat sensitive, they provide fantastic, consistent results. But let’s say you want to laminate photographs, heat-sensitive plastic, or glossy prints that could melt or distort when heat is applied. In that case, cold pouch laminators are ideal, and if those are the only kind of documents you’ll be laminating, that might be all you need. For many users though, combo machines that can do hot or cold lamination (like the aforementioned Spiral SpeedyLam 330R-10) provide great versatility. 

Types of Laminating Pouches

Most Popular Pouches

There are many different options for laminating pouches and supplies. If you don’t have a machine yet, pressure-sensitive 1-sided laminating sheets are an affordable option, and they’re worth a look. But once you invest in a pouch laminator, you’ll need to purchase pouches. If you go with a thermal laminator, you’ll need thermal pouches, which contain an adhesive that reacts to heat. But those won’t work for cold lamination, which requires cold self-laminating pouches. 

Other Pouch Options

But within each wider bucket of thermal vs. self-adhesive, you’ll find that there are even more options, starting with appearance. If you want the most transparent look, glossy finish pouches result in maximum shine and clarity. Sometimes, you may opt for a matte finish—it’s just about choosing the right pouch for the right task. You can also buy  UV-protective pouches, especially for something that might be handled often or stored outdoors. Documents can fade due to sun exposure, and UV-protective pouches definitely make a difference in longevity. If your documents will be passed around between users, anti-microbial pouches can limit bacteria transfer, making them fantastic for flash cards and learning materials in schools.

Quality Makes a Difference

Lastly, there are differences in quality between pouch manufacturers. For many people, you’ll only laminate important documents once (hopefully). Choosing nicer pouches can create laminates that will handle years of wear and tear and still look impeccable. One thing we’ve noticed in particular: some companies claim that their products are a certain thickness (like 3 mil, for instance) but are only that size in total, not per side. Higher quality brands, like Spiral, are the stated thickness on each side, so in this case, 6 mil total, so you truly get what you pay for.

Frustrating Pouch Laminating Issues & Solutions

While laminating can be fun, it’s not so thrill-inducing that you’ll want to re-run the same document repeatedly due to errors.  Improper prep work or settings can result in unsightly results that will cause difficulty reading the document, poor durability, or both. Let’s discuss some of the most common problems people encounter when using a pouch laminator and the solutions. 

Pouch Not Sealing

First, and one of the most common challenges, especially when learning the ropes, is poor adhesion. This is usually caused by setting the temperature too low or running the document through the laminator too quickly—resulting in the lamination surface failing to adhere to the document fully. The fix? Simply increase the heat or decrease the speed (you see now why these settings are so important to have when you buy your laminator).

A Cloudy Finish

After poor adhesion, most of the other issues relate to aesthetics. If you’re seeing a cloudy or milky appearance on your final documents, that’s usually the result of low heat or the speed being too fast, the same factors that cause poor adhesion. The solution is as easy as adjusting those heat and speed settings until you get the perfect finish. And if you are still having issues after this, then it may be the quality of the pouch you are using or the paper stock type (textured papers don’t work well with lamination, in general).

Wavy or Wrinkly Finish

On the other hand, if the heat is too high or the pass-through is too slow, you can get wrinkly or wavy documents from the film on the pouch warping or shrinking inconsistently. Turning down the heat or speeding up the rate at which the pouch goes through usually fixes it pretty quickly.

Peeling Edges

If you see that the edges of the document are peeling, that usually indicates that the document is too close to the edge of the pouch. But by putting a 1/4” margin between the document and the pouch on all ends, you’ll typically avoid that.

Bubbling

If you’ve ever tried to apply a screen protector on a phone, vinyl wrap on a car, or done cold lamination by hand, you’ve likely battled bubbles. In thermal lamination, this is usually caused by poor alignment between the print and pouch or from the heat being too high. Try again with a lower heat setting and carefully place your item.

Pouch Wrapping Around Roller

Although it’s a bit less common, the last thing you might see is having the pouch wrap around the rear roller instead of your document. This typically indicates that the laminating temperature is far too low, but it can also be avoided by using a pouch carrier, as those help with alignment and ensure smooth travel through laminators. It could also happen if you place your pouch in with the open-end first by mistake, making that reverse feature a handy tool for your back pocket.

Tips for Proper Maintenance and Care of Your Pouch Laminator

Modern laminators are well-engineered, but you can keep them running their best with simple office laminator maintenance protocols. First, using a pouch carrier can limit adhesive seeping from the pouch onto rollers and other moving parts. Obviously, sticky glue is the opposite of what keeps the low-friction rollers and feed mechanisms happy, so pouch carriers, in general, are a great idea to improve lamination quality and extend the life of your machine. But even if you use a carrier, some adhesive seepage is normal, and it’s a good idea to occasionally clean residue off the rollers. How frequently you do so will depend on your usage; it is usually recommended to clean every 6-12 months, depending on your volume and whether you use a carrier or not.

Beyond cleaning, laminators get very hot, and the complex parts inside must cool down properly to prevent damage and warping over time. It’s not enough to unplug it—you should always use the cool-down function of the machine. Have you ever had a pan warp or seen glass crack after going from a hot stove to very cold water? The same principle applies to laminators. By letting it run through the cool down process properly, you can prevent the parts inside from degrading prematurely. As part of any laminator brand comparison,  we recommend checking to see if the manufacturer includes automatic cooldown functions.

Buy a Great Pouch Laminator Today

Whether you need thermal lamination for run-of-the-mill documents, cold lamination for sensitive or glossy photographs, or a combo machine, the key is picking the right one for your needs. Machine size, number of rollers, ability to do foiling, and the inclusion of high-tech features should all weigh into your decision. Ultimately, getting the best results requires practice and learning how to avoid the common aesthetic and technical issues resulting from improper settings and loading techniques. When you’re ready, the team at Spiral is here to guide you toward picking the right laminator and accessories to give all your documents the finishing touch they deserve.

Need help choosing the best pouch laminator for your unique needs? Contact our expert team for insights and one-on-one help navigating the options.